Apparatus and method for sorting numbered media



W. M. KNEER Aug. 30, 1966 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SORTING NUMBERED MEDIA Filed Aug. 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l L R f W K 111% M W F M Ww F M H M W m MW 0 O 2 3 6 Z 7 n 0 4 Z X. 2 2 m Z 7 \\M\\ 0 w j ,4 T 7 4 fly 3 M, /,flt 5 Aug. 30, 1966 w. M. KNEER 3,269,788

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SORTING NUMBERED MEDIA Filed Aug. 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 C L INVENTOR.

40 WILL/HM M. KNR

BY Fig- '2 fi mjw w W ATTOR Aug. 30, 1966 w. M. KNEER 3,269,788

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SORTING NUMBERED MEDIA Filed Aug. 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVENTOR WiLL/AM M. KNEER BY W YM ATTORN E V5 United States Patent 3,269,788 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SORTING NUMBERED MEDIA William M. Kneer, 301 Castlewood Ave., Dayton, Ohio Filed Aug. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 391,174 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-200) This invention deals with a method and apparatus for numerically sorting various numbered media. More particularly, this invention deals with a method and apparatus for manually sorting up to four digits of numerically coded numbers on checks, unit tickets, and other numbered media, with two sortings of the media with the aid of a novel sorting rack.

Prior methods for numerically sorting numbered media, both manually and mechanically do exist; however, applicant knows of none which sorts four digits of numbers in two sortings of the numbered media.

To aid in the sorting applicant has designed a novel portable card sorter containing one hundred compartments which are numbered from 00 to 99, for sorting the numbered media. The card sorter is divided into two upright sections and is hinged at the center to enable the operator to position the sections containing the compartments at any desired angle of approximately 0 to 180. Usually, an angle between 90 and 180 is used for convenient sorting.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a card sorter for numerically sorting up to four digits of numerically coded media in two sortings of the media.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for sorting up to four digits of numerically coded media in two sortings of the media.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the general arrangement of the sorting compartments;

FIGURE 2 is a view in cross section taken along the lines II-II of FIGURE 1 showing the shelf construction;

FIGURE 3 is a view in cross section taken along the lines III-III of FIGURE 1 showing the details of the handle and the means for anchoring the compartments in position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the shelves used in forming the compartments;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a bolt and nuts used to tie the compartments together;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing a modified construction of the sorting device; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view indicated by line VII-VII on FIGURE 6.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the sorting apparatus generally designated at '10. The apparatus consists of a left section generally indicated at 12 and a right section designated 14, which are pivotally joined by hinge 16. Hinge pin 18 is removably inserted in the hinge 16 and enables the sections to be taken apart when desired. The right section 14 can be rotated about the hinge 16 to close on section 12. Latch means 20 of known variety are provided to lock both sections together. The construction of the left and right sections are similar so as discussion of only the left section will follow.

The left section 12 consists of a back wall 22 with joining end walls 24 and 28. There are holes 26 and 30 in end walls 24 and 28, respectively, to provide the handle means for lifting section 12. The lower portion of wall 22 extends around the corner to form a bottom 32, as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

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Front section 34 has arcuate sections 36 punched out of it to facilitate grasping of the cards stored on the lowermost shelves 38. Section 34 is integrally joined with the bottom as shown in FIGURE 2. The forward end of shelves 38 are welded to the front section 34 at their junctions.

It should be noted that the lowermost shelves 38 slope downwardly toward back wall 22. This backward sloping of the shelves permits retention of the cards on the shelves.

FIGURE 4 shows the general construction of the shelves which are inserted in each section. The shelf is generally designated 42 and has a shelf section 44 as shown. The shelf section 44 has a right angle bend on each side to form depending side members 46 and 48. The front edge of shelf 44 has a semicircle 50 punched out to permit the media stored thereon to be readily grasped.

As shown, the front section of the shelf has a portion 52 which is bent over, while a small portion 54 is bent at an angle of 90 to shelf 44 to provide an area for numbering the compartments, as, for example, the num- 'bering of compartment 91 as shown. In the lowermost shelves 38, the numbering area is also bent over and is hidden behind section 34.

The sides 46 and 48 on the shelves have holes 56 drilled in them to permit rod 58, as shown in FIGURE 5, to be inserted therethrough to retain the shelves in the left section 12. Rod 58 has threaded ends 60 as shown. Nuts 62 have a knurled edge 64.

The method of anchoring shelves 42 in the cabinet structure is shown in FIGURE 3, which is a view of the right section 14. As shown in FIGURE 3 the rod 58 is inserted in holes 66 which are in side wall 68. The holes 66 are large enough to receive the shank portion of nuts 62. There are holes in each of the vertical members 40 and in side wall 70 which are in alignment with holes 66 in side wall 68.

Since the spacing of the holes 56 of shelf 42 are in alignment with the holes in side wall 68 the rod can be inserted through holes 66 in side wall 68 through holes 56 in shelf 42 through the appropriate matching holes in vertical member 40 and to side wall 70.

The shank portion of nut 62 is inserted through side wall 68 and is threaded on rod 58 as shown in FIGURE 3. A similar nut is placed on the opposite end of rod 58 through side wall 70 (not shown in the drawings). Both nuts are tightened to put rod 58 in tension and shelf members 42 in compression to anchor the shelves in the left and right hand sections.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 there are top storage shelves 72 which are used in storing the media to be sorted. The front edges 74 of the shelves are straight as shown. The shelves 72 are mounted similarly as are shelves 42 except in addition, center shelf 76 is fastened to rear wall 22 by fastener 78 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 3 shows a handle insert 80 which is made out of a hard rubber block having a slot therein, which handle is glued on to wall 6 as shown. Similar handles are present in side walls 24, 28 and 70.

Method of assembling card sorter The method of assembling the cabinet is as follows:

Since the construction of the left and right hand sections are the same, a discussion of the left section will follow. The left section is placed upright as shown in FIGURE 2 and a shelf section 44 is held between end wall 28 and a vertical member 40 with the holes 56 in alignment with the appropriate holes in end wall 28 and vertical members 40. Rod 58 is then inserted through the end wall, through the holes in shelf 44 and then through vertical member 40. This process is repeated until a 3 horizontal row of shelves is held in place by rods 58. Nuts 62 are then turned on the threaded ends of rods 58 and tightened. Since the nuts are retained on the end walls 24 and 28, there will be tension on rods 58 and compression in shelves 44 to anchor the shelves in place.

The process of anchoring the remaining layers of shelves is similar to the above; however, shelf 76 has a rear flange which is fastened to back wall 22 as shown in FIGURE 2. The lowermost shelves 38 are also Welded to front section 34 along their common junction.

The process of anchoring the shelves in right half 14 is similar. The left and right hand sections are joined by a standard hinge 16 and pin 18 as shown in FIGURE 1.

The sorting compartments are numbered from at the lower left hand side of left section 11, to 09 at the lower right hand side of the right section 14. The second lowermost layer of compartments is numbered from to 19, etc. and the top layer of slanting shelves is numbered from 90 to 99. The topmost horizontal shelf is not numbered since it merely consists of storage compartments.

Method of using card sorter When it is desired to sort the various numbered media, the following procedure is used. On the first sorting of the numbered media, such as tickets for example, which may be in any order as received, the media are sorted only by the last two digits.

First sort Assume the number of a ticket is 7165. When making the first sort, this ticket should be placed in compartment 65. The sorting by the last two digits is continued until all the media have been sorted.

After the first sort has been completed, all the tickets found in compartment 99 should be removed intact and placed face downward in a storage shelf on the sorting device. The tickets found in compartment 98 should be removed intact and placed face downward on top of the tickets removed from compartment 99. This process is continued until all tickets have been removed from the sorting compartments to form a stack A.

Second sort After the tickets have been removed from the sorting compartments following the first sort, the entire stack A should be inverted intact in order that tickets numbered 99 which were on the bottom of the stack, will now be on the top.

The tickets are now sorted on the first two digits. The ticket numbered 7165, previously mentioned, is now placed in compartment 71.

As tickets numbered 1 through 99 are encountered, they are placed in compartment 00, face upward, one on top of the other in the order in which they occur.

As tickets numbered 100 through 199 are encountered, they are placed in compartment ()2. Similarly, tickets numbered 900 through 999 would be placed in compartment 09, etc.

Removing tickets after second sort When the second sorting has been completed, all the tickets bearing:

Numbers 1-99 will be found in compartment 00 Numbers 100-199 will be found in compartment 01 Numbers 200299 will be found in compartment 02, and Numbers 11001199 will be found in compartment 11,

etc.

To remove the tickets, all the tickets found in compartment 99 should be removed intact and placed face upward in a storage shelf B. Immediately on top of this group should be placed face upward all the tickets taken intact from compartment 98, etc., until the tickets have all been removed.

After all compartments have been emptied in this manner, compartment numbered 00 being emptied last, all

4 the tickets will be in correct numerical sequence with the tickets bearing the lowest numbers on top, and the ticket bearing the highest number at the bottom of the group.

FIGURE 6 shows a modified construction which, insofar as the overall size and configuration and arrangement of the compartments is concerned, is the same as the modification of FIGURES 1 through 5.

In the first modification, the vertical partition members and shelves and the housing or wrapper were secured together by long rods extending laterally through the unit. It has been found that this type of construction is not only somewhat expensive, but the presence of the rods in the sorting compartments is an inconvenience because at times cards will inadvertently be inserted above the rods and the cards can then get out of order or at least an obstruction will be created in a compartment that will interfere with inserting further cards therein.

In the improved construction of FIGURE 6, these difficulties are eliminated and a considerably improved and more economical construction results. Basically, the FIGURE 6 construction differs in that the horizontal shelves are each formed of one-piece members which are pierced for receiving the vertical partition members. The horizontal shelves and the vertical partition members interlock and the entire assembly is secured together after the housing or wrapper is in place by the insertion of a few rivets which can be quickly put in place with a rivet gun of a known type.

Referring to FIGURE 6, the housing of the unit is indicated at and this is the same as the housing in the first modification except that the housing does not form any part of the piece and is merely a three-sided sheet metal member that wraps around the sides and back of the device.

The base portion of the device 82 is a channel-shaped sheet metal member that can readily be formed on a bending brake or the like and extends laterally between the side portions of the wrapper and may be secured thereto as by rivet means 84 extending through flanges at the end of the base member.

The partitions of which there are the same number as in connection with the first described modification, are identified at 86 and these members have tongues 88 at the bottom extending through apertures 90 at the top wall of base member 82. Tongues 88 are perforated and are secured to the base member by an angle member 92 that extends across both of the tongues and is also apertured so that rivets 94 can be employed for securing the angle member to the tongues thereby fixing the vertical partition members 86 in place on the base members.

Prior to connecting the partition members with the base member, the horizontally extending shelf members are assembled with the partition members. The uppermost shelf member 96 extends horizontally and provides storage compartments or the like at the top of the unit the same as is provided in connection with the first described modification. This shelf 96 is pierced with longitudinal slots through which partition member 86 can be inserted. The partition member is then notched at 98 along the front edge and shelf member 86 is pulled backward ly in the notch when it is assembled with the partition member, and this will support the forward edge of the shelf. The horizontal shelf in about the middle is connected to housing or wrapper 80 by a rivet 100. Other rivets means 102 extend through dependant flanges in the ends of shelf member 96 and the housing or wrapper 80.

The other horizontally extending partition members 104 incline downwardly from the front to the back the same as in connection with the first mentioned modification. These shelf members are also pierced as at 106 so that the vertical partition members can be inserted downwardly through the pierced openings. The pierced openings in length correspond with the shortest dimension from front to back of the partition members so that the partition members can be slipped into the pierced openings. As in connection with shelf member 96, the vertical partition members are notched at the front edges at 108 so that shelves 104 can be pulled back into the notches. For the shelves 104 the partition members are also notched at 110 in the back and the notches are so dimensioned and arranged that the back edge of the pierced openings will rest on the bottom of notch 110 when the front edge of the pierced opening is drawn into notch 108, and this will dispose the shelf at the proper inclination to the vertical. Each shelf 104 is then secured to the end walls of Wrapper 80 by rivets 112 extending through the wrapper and dependant flanges on the ends of the shelf. A single rivet in about the middle of each horizontal shelf extending through a dependant flange in the back of the shelf and also through the wrapper or housing secures the housing to the shelves in back.

The rivets as mentioned before are easily inserted from outside the units through holes provided for the rivets by conventional rivet gun means, and it is therefore to be understood that further rivets could be inserted in the assembly where necessary in order to provide for a rigid unit. For example, the base 82 could have upturned flanges along the bottom edge riveted to the wrapper and likewise rivets could be placed through the wrapper and back vertical wall of the base portion if so desired. Due to the interlocking nature of the vertical partitions and the horizontal shelves, it will be understood that only a few rivet connections are necessary in order to make a substantially rigid connection.

It will be evident that no rods or other projections are present in the partitions so that there is no likelihood of cards being caught or in any other way being interfered with while being inserted or removed therefrom.

The horizontal shelves are not only supported by their engagement with the notches of the vertical partition members and by their flanges along the side and back edges that are riveted to the wrapper, and by the turned-back front edges which, although not shown, are formed the same as the front edges of the members 44 in the firstmentioned modification, but they are also stiffened by the manner in which the openings 106 are pierced therein as shown in FIGURE 7. In FIGURE 7 it will be noted that the material of horizontal shelf 104 is struck out of the plane of the shelf as at 116 and that in this struck out portion of the pierced opening 106 is provided with lips 118 turned downwardly therefrom. This sort of construction converts a normally flexible sheet metal element into a relatively stiff three-dimensional member which is adequately strong for all purposes so that shelves do not tend to become bent in use. The same sort of configuration is imparted to uppermost horizontal shelf 96 so that it also is relatively stiff.

The use of the FIGURE 6 modification is exactly the same as that described in connection with the first described modification.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet structure having a plurality of compartments therein and especially adapted, for use in sorting numbered cards, said cabinet comprising a plurality of laterally extending shelves, said shelves being provided with slot-like pierced openings extending in the front to back direction in the shelves, plate-like partition members extending vertically through said pierced openings whereby the shelves and partition members define the aforesaid compartments, said partition members being formed with notches in the front and back edges which Lil engage the shelves at the front and back ends of the said openings therein, a wrapper extending along the sides and across the back of the assembled unit of the shelves and partition members, and means fixing the Wrapper to the ends and backs of said shelves to form an integral unit, the lowermost one of said shelves having means dependant from the front and back edges thereof forming a supporting base for said cabinet structure.

2. In a cabinet structure made of relatively thin sheet metal, a base member having a top wall, a partition member resting on the top wall of the base member and having tongues extending through said top wall, horizontal shelf means mounted in vertically spaced relation on said partition member, said shelf means having slots therein for receiving said partition member, said partition member being formed with notches along both vertical edges, each said notch engaging a respective shelf means at one end of the slot in the shelf means, the notches in the opposite vertical edges of the partition member being staggered in the vertical direction so that each shelf means supported by the partition member is inclined from one edge to the other, and a wrapper extending around three sides of the assembly of the base member and partition member and shelf means and secured to the base and shelf means.

3. In a cabinet having a plurality of compartments and especially adapted for receiving sorted cards; a base member, a housing extending vertically upwardly from the base member and comprising end parts at the ends of the base member and a back part extending across the back of the base member, a plurality of shelf elements in said housing arranged in vertically spaced relation above said base member, means securing said shelf elements to said housing, each shelf having elongated apertures therein in spaced parallel relation extending from near the front of the respective shelf element to near the back thereof, and partition members extending vertically through said apertures to the said base member and being secured to the base member whereby the said elements and partition members form the said compartments, each said partition member having a notch in the front edge for each shelf element engaging the respective shelf element at the front end of the respective aperture therein and all of said shelf elements except the uppermost one thereof being inclined downwardly toward the rear of the cabinet, each partition member also including a notch in the back edge thereof for each inclined shelf element engaging the respective shelf element at the rear end of each respective aperture therein when the shelf element is tilted downwardly at the back end.

4. A cabinet according to claim 3 in which the uppermost surface of said base member is inclined downwardly toward the rear so as to be parallel to the downwardly inclined shelf elements, apertures in the top wall of the base member pertaining to each partition member, tongues on the partition members extending through the respective apertures in the base member, and means interconnecting the tongues of each partition member on the underneath side of the top wall of the base member.

5. A cabinet according to claim 3 which includes hinge means extending along the front edge of one of the end walls of said housing and handle means in the other end wall of the housing whereby two cabinets having the said hinge means on respectively opposite ones of the ends of the housings thereof can be hinged together to form a unit.

6. A cabinet according to claim 3 in which each said shelf means in the region thereof bordering each said aperture therein is formed out of the main plane of the respective shelf element thereby to stiffen each shelf element against deflection.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Permelee 312-199 X Benbow 312-202 X Van Deinse 312234.4 Cady 312-199 X Kruse 220-94 Thacker 129-15 Rosenberg 312-290 X Staples 108-60 Haveles 312-257 X Schaefer 108-60 agernent, January 1964.

OTHER REFERENCES The Basic Systems of Indexing, Administrative Man- 10 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CABINET STRUCTURE HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS THEREIN AND ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN SORTING NUMBERED CARDS, SAID CABINET COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY EXTENDING SHELVES, SAID SHELVES BEING PROVIDED WITH SLOT-LIKE PIERCED OPENINGS EXTENDING IN THE FRONT TO BACK DIRECTION IN THE SHELVES, PLATE-LIKE PARTITION MEMBER EXTENDING VERTICALLY THROUGH SAID PIERCED OPENINGS WHEREBY THE SHELVES AND PARTITION MEMBERS DEFINE THE AFORESAID COMPARTMENTS, SAID PARTITION MEMBERS BEING FORMED WITH NOTCHES IN THE FRONT AND BACK EDGES WHICH ENGAGE THE SHELVES AT THE FRONT AND BACK ENDS OF THE SAID OPENINGS THEREIN, A WRAPPER EXTENDING ALONG THE SIDES AND ACROSS THE BACK OF THE ASSEMBLED UNIT OF THE SHELVES AND PARTITION MEMBERS, AND MEANS FIXING THE WRAPPER TO THE ENDS AND BACKS OF THE SHELVES TO FORM AN INTEGRAL UNIT, THE LOWERMOST ONE OF SAID SHELVES HAVING MEANS DEPENDANT FROM THE FRONT AND BACK EDGES THEREOF FORMING A SUPPORTING BASE FOR SAID CABINET STRUCTURE. 